If your computer keyboard does not type the correct characters, the problem may be selecting the wrong text input language. Modern operating systems offer the ability to enter text, via keyboard, using different idioms and switching from one input language to another by mistake is very easy. If you are using a laptop without a numeric keypad, the cause of the problem may be accidentally activating the "Num Lock" function key. This article explains how to change the text input language and keyboard layout using all the latest versions of Windows and macOS.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Windows 10
Step 1. Verify that the Num Lock key is not active (if you are using a laptop, you must use the key combination Fn + Num Lock).
On most laptops, the numeric keypad is integrated into the keyboard as a secondary function of other primary keys and can be activated via the "Num Lock" key or the "Fn" and "Num Lock" key combination. Make sure the latter is not active by pressing it once. At this point, try typing some text to see if the keyboard has started working properly again. If the problem persists, the cause may be the wrong input language selected.
Step 2. Scroll through the list of keyboard layouts you have installed on your computer
If you have more than one keyboard input language enabled, you can switch between them quickly and easily. There are two ways to perform this step:
- Click on the language icon displayed on the system tray in the notification area. It is characterized by the language abbreviation of the current keyboard layout. At this point, click on the language you want to use. The icon appears only if you have more than one keyboard layout or more than one system language installed.
- Hold down the "Windows" key and press the spacebar to cycle through all languages and keyboard layouts installed on your computer.
- If you need to install a different language, read on.
Step 3. Launch the Windows Settings app
Click on the icon Settings of the "Start" menu characterized by a gear.
Step 4. Click the Date time and language icon
It is characterized by a clock, the letter "A" and a character of another language. The page for computer configuration settings of date, time, region and language will be displayed.
Step 5. Click on the Language tab
It is located on the left side of the "Date / Time and Language" screen. It is characterized by an icon depicting the letter "A" and a character of another language. The "Language" panel will appear. This way, you will have the option to install other languages on your computer.
Step 6. Click on the + button
It is located in the "Preferred Languages" section of the current menu. The language installation screen will appear.
Step 7. Type the name of the language you want to install into the search bar
The latter is located at the top of the pop-up that appeared. A list of all languages that meet the searched criteria will be displayed.
Some languages will offer different regional variant installation packages
Step 8. Select the language to install and click the Next button
Click on the name of the language you searched for to select it, then click on the button Come on located in the lower left corner of the pop-up.
Step 9. Click the Install button
It is located in the lower left corner of the current window. The package for the chosen language will be installed.
Step 10. Click on the name of the language you want to use as the default
If you already have more than one language installed on your computer, the wrong one may be selected, which would be the cause of the keyboard text input problem. Select the language you want to use as the system default language and click the "Set as Primary" button.
The language used by the system to display menus and contents will be set to the one you have specified as the default language. You will need to log in to Windows again for the changes to take effect
Step 11. Click on the language you prefer
Any language packs you have installed on your computer will be listed within the "Preferred Languages" section of the "Language" tab.
Step 12. Click the ↑ up arrow icon to move your chosen language to the top of the list
The language that occupies the first position in the list of preferred languages will be used as the default language.
Alternatively, click on the name of one of the installed languages that you do not want to use, then click on the "Remove" button, then repeat the operation for all other languages present in order to uninstall them from your computer
Step 13. Click the Options button
A list of additional configuration options related to the chosen language will be displayed. Within the page that appears you can change the keyboard settings.
Step 14. Click the + button and select the keyboard layout you want to install
If the normal keyboard layout is not displayed in the window that appeared, click on the plus-shaped button in the "Keyboards" section. At this point, click on the name of the layout you want to install. The latter will automatically be added to the list in the "Keyboards" section. You can set the active keyboard layout by clicking on the language icon that will appear on the taskbar (refer to step number two of the method for more information on this).
- The keyboards not belonging to the "QWERTY" typology will insert wrong characters compared to the keys you pressed when using the Italian language layout.
- Alternatively, you can select all the keyboard layouts in the "Keyboards" section one at a time and delete them leaving only the one you actually want to use.
Method 2 of 4: macOS
Step 1. Scroll through the list of all languages installed on the Mac
You can perform this step in two ways:
- Click the flag or character icon on the menu bar displayed at the top of the screen, then select the language and keyboard you want to use.
- Press the ⌘ Command key and the spacebar simultaneously to cycle through all the languages installed on your computer.
Step 2. Click on the "Apple" menu
and select the item System Preferences.
The "System Preferences" dialog will appear, allowing you to select which languages to use on your Mac.
Step 3. Click the Keyboard icon
It features a small stylized keyboard. The keyboard settings will be displayed.
If you are using a keyboard other than that of the Mac, click on the button Configure Bluetooth keyboard displayed within the "Keyboard" tab. At this point, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to detect the new keyboard.
Step 4. Click on the Input Sources tab
It is located at the top of the "Keyboard" window. This way, you will have the option to choose which languages to install.
Step 5. Click on the + button
It is located at the bottom of the left pane where all installed languages are listed. A menu will appear that will allow you to add new idioms.
If you wish, you can click on the name of the languages or keyboard layouts displayed in the list and click the "-" button to uninstall them
Step 6. Search for the language you want to use
Use the search bar in the lower right corner of the window that appears to find the language you want to install. A list of the idioms that match the search criteria will be displayed.
Step 7. Select the language to install and click the Add button
When the language you have chosen appears in the list displayed on the right side of the window, click on the corresponding name to select it. At this point, click on the button add located in the lower right corner of the window to install the chosen language. You can repeat this step to install as many languages as you need. To select the language or keyboard layout to use, click on the flag or character icon on the menu bar displayed at the top of the screen.
Method 3 of 4: Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Step 1. Verify that the Num Lock key is not active (if you are using a laptop, you must use the key combination Fn + Num Lock).
On most laptops the numeric keypad is integrated into the keyboard as a secondary function of other primary keys and can be activated via the "Num Lock" key or the "Fn" and "Num Lock" key combination. Make sure the latter is not active by pressing it once. At this point, try typing some text to see if the keyboard has started working properly again. If the problem persists, the cause may be the wrong input language selected.
Step 2. Scroll through the list of keyboard layouts you have installed on your computer
If you have more than one keyboard input language enabled, you can switch between them quickly and easily. There are several ways to perform this step:
- Click on the language icon displayed on the system tray in the notification area. It is characterized by the language abbreviation of the current keyboard layout. At this point, click on the language you want to use. The icon appears only if you have more than one keyboard layout or more than one system language installed.
- Hold down the "Windows" key and press the spacebar to cycle through all the languages installed on your computer.
- Hold down the "Windows" key and press the spacebar to cycle through all keyboard layouts installed on your computer.
Step 3. Press the key combination ⊞ Win + C to bring up the Windows 8 Charms Bar, also known as the "Charms Bar"
If the instructions provided in the previous step did not resolve the issue, continue reading. You can also access the indicated bar by moving the mouse cursor to the bottom corner of the screen or by sliding your finger to the left from the right side of the screen in the case of a device with a touchscreen.
Step 4. Click on the Settings item, characterized by the icon
It appears inside the Windows 8 charms bar and has a gear icon. The "Settings" menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click on the Control Panel link
The Windows Control Panel will appear.
The link indicated may appear in the "Change PC Settings" or "Other Settings" section, located in the lower right corner of the "Settings" menu
Step 6. Click the Change input method link
It is displayed within the "Clock and Regional Options" section of the Windows Control Panel. The latter is characterized by an icon depicting a clock and the globe.
Step 7. Click on the Options link
It is located to the right of the currently selected language and displayed within the "Change language preferences" menu.
- If the currently selected language is not correct, click on the one you want to use from the available languages in the list. Click on the button Move up located at the top of the list of installed languages.
- If the language you want to use is not in the list, click on the item Add a language displayed at the top of the window and select the language to install. The data package for the chosen language will be downloaded and installed.
- Alternatively, you can click on the button Remove, in the "Language Options" window, next to the keyboard or input method you don't use and want to delete.
Step 8. Click on Add an input method
It features a blue link located within the "Input Method" section of the "Language Options" window.
Step 9. Type the name of the language or keyboard layout you want to add into the search bar
The latter is located in the upper right corner of the "Input Method" window. A list of input methods and keyboard layouts will be displayed.
Step 10. Click on the keyboard layout you want to install
It is listed within the appeared list. The chosen item will be selected.
Step 11. Click the Add button
It is located in the lower right corner of the "Input Method" dialog box. The chosen input method will be installed on your computer and you will be redirected to the "Language Options" menu.
Step 12. Click the Save button
It is located in the lower right corner of the "Language Options" window. The language and input method settings will be saved and applied. You can select the keyboard layout or input method to use by clicking on the language icon that will appear on the taskbar (refer to step number two of the method for more information on this).
Method 4 of 4: Windows 7
Step 1. Verify that the Num Lock key is not active (if you have a laptop, you must use the key combination Fn + Num Lock).
On most laptops, the numeric keypad is integrated into the keyboard as a secondary function of other primary keys and can be activated via the "Num Lock" key or the "Fn" and "Num Lock" key combination. Make sure the latter is not active by pressing it once. At this point, try typing some text to see if the keyboard is working properly again. If the problem persists, the cause may be the wrong input language selected.
Step 2. Scroll through the list of keyboard layouts you have installed on your computer
If you have more than one keyboard input language enabled, you can switch between them quickly and easily. There are two ways to perform this step:
- Click on the keyboard icon in the lower right corner of the desktop on the taskbar. If the indicated icon is not visible, select the Windows taskbar with the right mouse button, choose the "Toolbars" option, then click on the "Language bar" option.
- Hold down the "Windows" key and press the spacebar to cycle through all the languages installed on your computer.
Step 3. Access the Windows "Start" menu by clicking on the button
It is located in the lower left corner of the desktop and features the Windows logo.
Step 4. Click on the Control Panel item
It is located on the left side of the "Start" menu. The "Control Panel" window will appear. At this point, you can use the Windows "Control Panel" to uninstall the keyboard layout you are not using or to install the one you need.
Step 5. Click the Change keyboards or other input methods link
It is located in the "Clock and International Options" section of the "Control Panel", characterized by an icon depicting a clock and the globe.
Step 6. Click on the Keyboards and Languages tab
It is located at the top of the "Country and Language" window. The list of keyboard options will be displayed.
Step 7. Click the Change keyboards button
It is located at the top of the "Keyboards and Languages" tab. A new window will appear showing the list of installed keyboards.
Step 8. Click the Add button
If the keyboard layout you want to use is not listed, click the "Add" button to be able to select it from the list of all available languages.
Step 9. Click on the language you want to use, then select the keyboard layout you want to install
Click on the name of the language in the list that appears to be able to view the keyboard layouts and regional variants you can choose from. Select the check button of the keyboard layout you want to install.
Step 10. Click the Ok button
This way, the selected input language and its keyboard layout will be installed on your computer.
Step 11. Select the keyboard layout to use
Access the "Default input language" drop-down menu to select the language and keyboard layout to set as the default.
- Alternatively, you can click on a language or keyboard layout listed in the "Installed Services" section and click the button Remove to uninstall all languages and keyboard layouts you don't use.
- Click on the language listed in the "Installed Services" section that you want to use as the default, then click the button Move up until it appears at the top of the list.
Step 12. Click the Apply button
The new language and keyboard layout settings will be saved and applied. You can select the keyboard layout or input method to use by clicking on the keyboard icon on the taskbar (refer to step number two of the method for more information on this).
